The Pentagon has ordered the separation of service members and recruits with gender dysphoria from the U.S. military, following an executive order issued a month earlier by President Trump.
A memo released Wednesday from Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth’s office states that individuals diagnosed with or showing symptoms of gender dysphoria are deemed “incompatible with military service.”
This policy change follows Trump’s January 27 executive order, which argues that gender dysphoria does not align with military standards for readiness, cohesion, and integrity.
The Pentagon’s directive requires procedures to identify affected service members within 30 days and begin separation actions. However, exceptions may be made on a case-by-case basis if an applicant is deemed essential to warfighting capabilities or if a service member demonstrates three years of stability without significant distress or impairment.
SPARTA, an advocacy group for transgender service members and veterans, criticized the policy, emphasizing that thousands of transgender troops have served honorably. “No policy will erase transgender Americans’ contributions to military excellence,” the group stated.
The Pentagon memo also asserts that the Department of Defense recognizes only two sexes—male and female—stating that sex is “immutable” and must be reflected in pronoun usage and military salutations.
Trump’s decision was anticipated, as he had previously attempted to ban transgender service members in 2017 via Twitter. That policy was later reversed under the Biden administration, but Trump vowed to reinstate the ban during his 2024 campaign.
An estimated 14,700 transgender individuals were serving in the military as of 2018, according to the Palm Center, though exact figures are unknown.
In response to the policy, 21 attorneys general filed a legal brief on Wednesday to block the ban. New York Attorney General Letitia James condemned the policy as a “bigoted attack” on transgender service members and pledged to fight against it. The brief was signed by attorneys general from states including California, Illinois, Michigan, and Washington.
